What Continent Is Japan In?
Japan is a volcanic island nation located in East Asia. The capital is Tokyo, which is also the country's biggest city. Japan is made up of a group of islands totaling 6,852. The country has a population of approximately 127 million, which is the tenth biggest population in the world. The biggest islands are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, which make up 97% of Japan’s land area. The four islands are called the home islands. Nihon is the nation’s Japanese name, and it means "land of the rising sun." The country’s national language is Japanese, although there are 11 other recognized languages spoken in the country. The country has a constitutional monarchy, and Emperor Akihito has been in power since 1989.
Japan’s Economy
Japan has a strong education system and ranks as one of the top countries in the world in terms of literacy, maths, and sciences, which contribute significantly to the nation's workforce and economy. Japan is the fourth biggest exporter and importer in the world, and during the early 1900s the country’s nominal GDP was nearly as large as the rest of Asia combined. The country is home to some of the world's biggest and most technologically advanced industries. Japan’s unemployment rate stands at 4%, which is one of the lowest in the world, and has one of the lowest taxation rates in the world. Japan’s car industry is the third largest in the world, and is home to Toyota, which is the world's largest automotive manufacturer. Additionally, 13% of the country’s land is used for agriculture, especially rice, and there is a strong fishing sector that yields approximately 15% of the world's annual catch. Japan also has a strong tourism industry that receives millions of tourists each year.
Natural Disasters
Japan has 108 active volcanoes, some of which emerged during the 20th century. The country is also prone to tsunamis and earthquakes, which usually occur every century. In 2013, the country was ranked fifteenth in the world in terms of highest disaster risk. The most notable earthquakes include the March 11, 2011, Tohoku earthquake, the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995, and the Tokyo earthquake of 1923.
The Continent of Asia
Japan is located on the continent of Asia. Asia is the biggest of the seven continents and has the highest population. The continent covers an area of 17,212,000 square miles and has a population of 4.5 billion people, which represents 60% of the world’s population. Asia is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Indian Ocean to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the east. Many of the world’s religions originated from Asia. Asia has the second highest nominal GDP, behind Europe, but ranks first in terms of purchasing power parity GDP. Economic growth in Asia has primarily been experienced in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore. These countries are now developed states with the highest GDP in Asia.
